Solenoid operated switches



Oct. 24, 1961 J. 8. WHITE ET AL SOLENOID OPERATED SWITCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1959 II iIIIIIIIHI IIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTORSI JAMES 5 WHITE AND FRANK J. VARGO ATTORNEY FIG. 5

Oct. 24, 1961 J. 8. WHITE ET AL SOLENOID OPERATED SWITCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1959 INVENTORS.

JAMES S. WHITE AND FRANK J. VARGO ATTO RNEY United States Patent SOLENOID OPERATED SWITCHES James'S. White, Webster Groves, Mo., and Frank J.

Vargo, Cocoa, Fla, assignors to Ritepoint Pen and Pencil Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Aug. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 835,101

8 Claims. (Cl. 200-104) V This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in solenoid operated switches.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a solenoid operated switching device which is extremely compact, but, nevertheless, has extremely high capacity in terms of the number of circuits which can be simultaneously switched.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a solenoid operated switch of the type stated which is simple and economical in construction and can be quickly built up from -a relatively small number of standard dies, parts, or components.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a solenoid switch of the type stated which is extremely rugged and positive in operation.

It is likewisean object of the present invention to provide a solenoid operated switching device in which the contactors are of the snap-action type and will, therefore, make and break the circuits with a minimum of arcing. V a

With the above andother objects in view, our invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently. described and pointed out in the claims- In the accompanying drawings- 1 FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a solenoid operated switch constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the solenoid operated switch;

*FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 55 and 6-6, respectively, of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 1; and

' FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 3, except that part of thestructure is broken away for purposes of greater clarity, andithe contactor elements are shown in the opposite contactive position as compared with the contactive position shown in FIG. 3.

" Referring now in more'detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a solenoid operated switch comprising a pair of circular disks 1, 2, held in spaced parallel relation by two spacer-posts 3, 4, which are staked or otherwise rigidly mounted at their lower ends in the disk 1 and at their other or upper ends are axially drilled and tapped for receiving short screws 5, 6, which project through apertures formed in the disk 2 and are held in tightly engaged position by 7 means of lock washers 7, 8.

Staked at their opposite ends in, and extending axially between the disks 1,2, are six fiat bars 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, formed of formica or any other structurally strong dielectric material. As will be noted by reference to FIG. 2, the bars 9, 1O, 11, 12, 13, and 14, are arranged at equally spaced intervals around, and adjacent to, the perimeter of the disks 1, 2.

Also staked in, and projecting downwardly from, the plate 1 is a U-shaped frame 15, having a transverse bight 16 which is disposed in spaced parallel relation to the disk 1 and rigidly secured to the central portion thereof by means of an upset boss 17' is a cylindrical plug 18 which is disposed in coaxial alignment with the disks 1, 2, and is tightly fitted within the lower end of a tubular spool 19, having axially spaced annular flanges 20, 21, and being provided therebetween with a coil 22 of insulated magnet-wire having connection-leads 23, 24. The coil 22' is wound in the usual and conventional manner and the spool 19 is held securely and iminovably between the bight 16 of the frame and the underside of the disk '1. 'At its upper end, the spool 19 is rigidly secured to the disk 1 by means of a tubular sleeve 25 which extends through an aperture 26, being upset or peened-over as at 27, so as to draw the shoulder 28 into tight-fitted engagement against the underside of the disk 1. The shoulder 28, furthermore, has an outside diametral size slightly greater than the inside diametral size of a counterbore 29 formed in the upper end of the spool 19, so as to be firmly held therein by a tight pressfit. The sleeve 26 is also provided with an annular internally protruding bridge or corrugation 30 having an internal diametral size substantially equal to the internal diametral size of the lower portion of the spool 19, as shown in FIG. 3. In this connection, it should be noted that the disk 1, the frame 15, and the plug 18, are made of iron so as to create a magnetic yoke around the coil 22.

Slidably mounted within the spool 19 and the protuberance 30 of the sleeve 26 is a cylindrical iron rod 31 provided in its lower end with a downwardly opening axial bore 32 forreceiving a compression spring 33 by which the rod 31 is biased upwardly to the position shownv in FIG. 3. Mounted in the under face of the rod 31 in concentric relation to the bore .32 is an annular shading ring 34.

The rod 31 projects upwardly beyond the disk 1 and, at its upper end, is turned down to provide a concentric boss 35 which is axially drilled and tapped for receiving the lower threaded end of a bolt 36. Mounted concentricallyupon the bolt 36 and fitted snugly upon the boss 35 is a dielectric actuator-collar 37 having an upwardly presented flat annular shoulder 38 and a diametrally reduced "upwardly projecting tubular sleeve-portion 39 which is provided at its upper end with a notch 40 for snug-fitting retentive engagement with a downwardly projecting tongue 41 formed on a similarly sized complementary tubular sleeve 42, which is an integral part of a second dielectric actuator-collar 43 having a downwardly presented flat annular shoulder 44 and an upwardly opening concentric recess 45 for receiving the head 46 of the bolt 36 and a lock washer 47. It will be evident that as the bolt 36 is drawn down tightly into place, the two actuator-collars 37, 43, will be drawn together as a tightly assembled unit projecting upwardly from the solenoid rod 31 as a coaxial extension thereof. For convenience in assembly, the upper disk 2 is provided with a relatively large concentric aperture 48.

Each of the dielectric bars 10, 12, and 14, are pro vided, adjacent their upper ends, with a metallic bracket 49 rigidly held in place by means of a rivet 50 and integr-ally including an outwardly projecting soldering flange 51 and an inwardly projecting pivot flange 52, which is provided adjacent its inner end with a relatively wide short slot 53 and a relatively narrow long slot 54, the latter being provided approximately midway of its ends with laterally extending notches 55, 56. Similarly mounted upon each of the bars (10, 12, and 14, adjacent the lower ends thereof, is a contact-bracket 5-7 held in place by means of a rivet 58 and having an outwardly projecting soldering flange 59. The bracket 57 also includes an inwardly projecting flange 60 provided at its inner end Patented Oct. 24, 196]v with an axially upwardly projecting arm 61 having a contact point or button 62. The dielectric bars 10, 12, and 14, are also provided upon their outwardly presented faces with a contact-bracket 63 having an outwardly projecting soldering flange 64 and being held in place by means of a rivet 65, the inner end of which is enlarged to form a second contact point or button 66 which is in registering alignment with the contact button 62. Rockably mounted in the notches 55, 56, of the pivot flange 52 and projecting downwardly therefrom, is a switch blade 67 which is substantially wider than the distance between the opposed ends of the notches 55, S6, and is cut away at its upper end to provide bearing shoulders 68, 69. The switch-blade 67 is, furthermore, slotted from its upper end in the provision of a U-shaped clearance slot 70 and is punched in the provision of a small aperture 71 for receiving the hookend 72 ot a tension spring 73 which is, in turn, hooked at its upper end within an aperture 74 punched in the upper end of an actuator arm 75. Just below the aperture 74, the actuator arm 75 is provided with a clearance slot or opening 76, so that the upper portion of the actuator arm will not interfere with the operation of the spring 73 as the actuator arm 75 swings to and-fro. At its lower end, the actuator arm 75 is laterally cut away inwardly in the provision of shoulders 77, 78, which rockably bear against the upper face of the pivot-flange 52 and, as may be best seen in FIG. 6, the reduced-width lower end of the actuator arm 75 projects through the slot 53 in the pivot flange 52 and extends radially inwardly for mechanically operative abutment against the shoulder 44 of the actuator-collar 43 within one of the pockets p.

The dielectric bars 9, 11, and 13 are similarly provided with brackets 49', 57", 63, contact points or buttons 62, 66, switch blades 67, springs 73, and actuator arms 75, all substantially similar to the corresponding ele ments of the dielectric bars 10, 12, and 14, except that the position of these corresponding elements is reversed so that the brackets 49' are located at the lower ends, and the brackets 57 are located at the upp r ends of the dielectric bars 9, Id, and 13. Consequently, the actuator arms 75 project inwardly and are in mechanical engagement with the shoulders 38 of the lower actuator-collar 37. As will be seen in FIG. 7, the radial fins 3 which form the pocket p act as separators between the several inwardly projecting ends of the actuator arms 75, 7 and prevent accidental or unauthorized short circuiting co tact therebetween.

As will be noted by reference to FIG. 3, when the solenoid coil 22 is de-energilzed, the spring 33 will urge the solenoid rod 31 upwardly and the switch blades 67 will make contact with the contact points. or buttons 66. At the same time, the switch blades 67' will make contact with the contact points or buttons 62'. On the other hand, when the solenoid coil 22 is energized, the solenoid rod 31 will be pulled downwardly by magnetic force against the plug 18 to the position shown in FIG. 8. In this latter position, the actuator arms.75 will be rocked downwardly and the inner ends thereof correspondingly rocked inwardly, so; that the spring 73 will swing inwardly and, by toggle action, snap the switch blades 67 inwardly, break contact with the contact point or button 66 and make contact with the contact point or button 62. At the same time, the actuator arm 75- will be swung downwardly so that the lower end thereof will. swing outwardly and the spring 73 will, in turn,v swing outwardly, thereby rocking the switch blades 67' outwardly, breaking contact with the contact points or buttons 62 and making contact with the contact points. 01? buttonsv 66'. Whenever the solenoid: coil 22 is de-energized again, the spring 33' will push the solenoid rod 31 upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 8 to the position shown in FIG. 3' and the original set of contacts, will be re-established.

For purposes of illustration and description herein, the

switch A has been shown in a vertical position and the disk 2 has been referred to as being at the upper end of the structure. However, it should be clearly understood that the switch A may be mounted in any position and the parts thereof will operate equally well regardless of orientation. It should also be pointed out that the switch A, as shown and described, includes six dielectric bars 9, 10, 11, 1-2, 13, and 14, but it is also possible to construct a switch in accordance with the present invention wherein four, eight, ten, or, for that matter, almost any even number of dielectric bars, within reasonable size-limits, may be employed. It has been found, as a result of actual experience with switches constructed in accordance with the present invention, that the toggle springs 73 and the toggle springs 73', not only hold the switch blades 67, 67, in their respective positions, but also counterbalance the solenoid rod 31, so that the switch is extremely sensitive and will respond to relatively small current in the coil 22.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the solenoid operated switches may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch comprising a pair of end members, means rigidly secured to the end members and holding them in opposed spaced relation in the provision of a cage, a solenoid rigidly mounted on the cage and having a hollow core, a rod-like armature shiftably mounted within the hollow core for movement axially with respect to the solenoid when the latter is energized and die-energized, an actuator rigidly secured to and movably with the armature, said actuator extending outwardly from the solenoid into the cage, said actuator having a peripheral slot, opposed electrical contact-elements mounted within the cage and insulated from each other, a spring-biased switch blade operatively mounted within the cage for swinging movement between said contact-elements whereby to make optional contact with either of said contactelements, and a radially inwardly projecting actuator arm on the switch blade mechanically engaging the actuator slot whereby to swing the blade optionally into contactive engagement with either of said contact-elements responsive to movement of the actuator..

2. A switch comprising a pair of spaced parallel plates of similar peripheral shape and disposed in marginal registration, a plurality of dielectric bars rigidly connected at their ends to and extending lengthwise between the plates, said bars being arranged in a symmetrical pattern around the outer marginal portions of the plates, a solenoid' actuated plunger operatively mounted between the plates and within the space defined by the bars for lengthwise shifting movement parallel to the bars, contactelements mounted on each of said bars, a switch. blade rockably mounted on each bar for optional circuit-making, engagement with the contact-element on the bar with which it is associated, and a radially inwardly projecting actuator arm on each switch blade for mechanical engagement with the plunger whereby to swing the blades simultaneously into and out of circuit-making engagement responsive to lengthwise movement of the plunger.

3. A switch comprising a pair of spaced parallel disks disposed in marginal registration, a plurality of dielectric bars rigidly connected at their ends, to and extending lengthwise between the disks, said bars being arranged in a symmetrical pattern around the outer marginal portions of the. disks, a Solenoid actuated plunger operatively mounted between the disks and within the space defined by the bars for lengthwise shifting movement parallel to the bars, contact-elements mounted on each of said bars, a switch blade rockably mounted on each bar for optional circuit-making engagement with. the contact-element on the bar with which it is associated, and a radially inward- 1y projecting actuator arm on each switch blade for mechanical engagement with the plunger whereby to swing the blades simultaneously into and out of circuit-making engagement responsive to lengthwise movement of the plunger.

4. A switch comprising first and second spaced parallel disks disposed in marginal registration by means of spacer bars secured at their ends to and extending between the disks adjacent the peripheries thereof, a plurality of dielectric bars also secured at their opposite ends in and extending axially between the disks, said disks being provided with concentric apertures, a solenoid coil mounted upon the outer face of the first disk in concentric alignment with the aperture thereof, said coil being provided with a central recess which is coaxial with the aperture in the first disk, a spring-biased plunger slidably disposed within the recess of the coil and extending upwardly through the aperture in the first disk, a dielectric spool mounted on the end of the plunger which projects through the first disk, said spool being provided approximately midway of its length with annular abutment shoulders, and switching means operatively mounted on each of the dielectric bars, each of said switching means having radially inwardly projecting actuator arms disposed between the abutment shoulders of the spool so that the spool will impart rocking movement thereto as it moves axially responsive to energization and de-energization of the solenoid coil.

5. A switch comprising first and second spaced parallel disks disposed in marginal registration by means of spacer bars secured at their ends to and extending between the disks adjacent the peripheries thereof, a plurality of di electric bars also secured at their opposite ends in and extending axially between the disks, said disks being provided with concentric apertures, a solenoid coil mounted upon the outer face of the first disk in concentric alignment with the aperture thereof, said coil being provided with a central recess which is coaxial with the aperture in the first disk, a plunger slidably disposed within the recess of the coil and extending upwardly through the aperture in the first disk, a compression spring mounted Within the recess for normally urging the plunger axially upwardly in relation to the coil, a dielectric spool mounted on the end of the plunger which projects through the first disk, said spool being provided approximately midway of its length with annular abutment shoulders, and switching means operatively mounted on each of the dielectric bars, each of said switching means having radially inwardly projecting actuator arms disposed between the abutment shoulders of the spool so that the spool will impart rocking movement thereto as it moves axially responsive to energization and de-energization of the solenoid coil.

6. A switch comprising first and second spaced parallel disks disposed in marginal registration by mews of spacer bars secured at their ends to and extending between the disks adjacent the peripheries thereof, a plurality of dielectric bars also secured at their opposite ends in and extending axially between the disks, said disks being provided with concentric apertures, a solenoid coil mounted upon the outer face of the first disk in concentric alignment with the aperture thereof, said coil being provided with a central recess which is coaxial with the aperture in the first disk, a spring-biased plunger slidably disposed within the recess of the coil and extending upwardly through the aperture in the first disk, a dielectric spool mounted on the end of the plunger which projects through the first disk, said spool being provided approximately midway of its length with annular abutment shoulders, radial fins formed on the spool in the region of the abutment shoulders and projecting outwardly therefrom to form laterally opening pockets, and switching means operatively mounted on each of the dielectric bars, each of said switching means having radially inwardly projecting actuator arms disposed between the abutment shoulders of the spool so that the spool will impart rocking movement thereto as it moves axially responsive to energizetion and de-energization of the solenoid coil, each arm being disposed within a pocket so that each arm is separated from each other arm by a radial fin.

7. A switch comprising first and second spaced parallel disks disposed in marginal registration by means of spacer bars secured at their ends to and extending between the disks adjacent the peripheries thereof, a plurality of dielectric bars also secured at their opposite ends in and extending axially between the disks, said disks being provided with concentric apertures, a solenoid coil mounted upon the outer face of the first disk in concentric alignment with the aperture thereof, said coil being provided with a central recess which is coaxial with the aperture in the first disk, a spring-biased plunger slidably disposed within the recess of the coil and extending upwardly through the aperture in the first disk, annular bearing means mounted within the upper end of the recess for guiding and centralizing the plunger, a dielectric spool mounted on the end of the plunger which projects through the first disk, said spool being provided approximately midway of its length with annular abutment shoulders, and switching means operatively mounted on each of the dielectric bars, each of said switching means having radially inwardly projecting actuator arms disposed between the abutment shoulders of the spool so that the spool will impart rocking movement thereto as it moves axially responsive to energization and de-energization of the solenoid coil.

8. A switch comprising a pair of end members, means rigidly secured to the end members and holding them in opposed spaced relation in the provision of a cage, a solenoid rigidly mounted on the cage and having a hollow core in axial alignment with the cage, a rod-like armature shiftably mounted within the hollow core for movement axially with respect to the solenoid when the latter is energized and de-energized, an actuator rigidly secured to and movable with the armature, said actuator extending outwardly from the solenoid into the cage for axial movement therein, a pair of axially spaced annular abutments formed on the actuator, a plurality of dielectric support members mounted in and extending coaxially between the end members in radially outwardly spaced relation to the actuator, opposed electrical contact elements mounted on each of said support members, a spring-biased switch blade operatively mounted on each of said support members for swinging movement between the contact-elements whereby to make optional contact with either of said contact elements, and a radially inwardly extending arm on each switch blade projecting toward the actuator and disposed between the abutments thereof for optionally rocking the switch blades into contactive engagement with one or the other of said contact-elements responsive to movement of the actuator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 994,575 Dana June 6, 1911 1,831,368 Rubel Nov. 10, 1931 2,331,114 Finch Oct. 5, 1943 2,714,141 Urey et al July 26, 1955 2,749,408 Horman et al June 5, 1956 2,886,668 Steward et a1. May 12, 1959 2,941,066- Wallace June 14, 1960 2,945,930 Priesemuth July 19, 1960 

